The War Against Israel: 1948 to Present

rakovsky

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"Believe in peace"? That's a a pretty nebulous faith. I believe in the God of the Bible, and he doesn't promise peace.
When we say we believe in peace we mean that it is our goal. As Christ said, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

Why do you somehow expect the Jews to be the ones to produce world peace, when their enemies are so intent on taking it away from them?

Israel has peace. She doesn't need more peace.
Israel definitely needs more peace, brother, as do America and many other countries. ☮

The world ignored Hitler's repeated promises to wipe out the Jews
Before WWII started, Hitler did not announce to Germans or to the world that he was going to kill millions of civilians. If he had, he would have incurred much more opposition from Germans and from the rest of the world. When he invaded Poland he banned teaching Polish and killed very many Poles, including priests... for being Polish. The fact is, Hitler did not announce he would do all that beforehand, and the mass killing started during the war, at which point, Yes, the allies were trying to stop the Nazi genocides when he was implementing them.

Does that mean America should have invaded Germany before the war? No, actually. Just because someone is a super-nationalist- and the world has seen many of them- does not mean they are going to commit genocide. But it does make sense that when someone starts committing genocide, then people should try to stop it. Perhaps war is not the only war to stop genocide, or perhaps you can make other Christian pacifist arguments about bearing our cross. I am not sure I agree with those arguments. But in either case it is certainly premature to attack people for genocide or ratchet up war tensions before there is a genocide or even threats of it.

For the record, Iran's leader has never said he would commit genocide, so you have to ask yourself why people like Ben Stein would be saying that he did. I have never seen an exact quote by Iran's leader saying that he would cause a genocide. My guess is that Iran's leader said statement X against the Israeli State and then people talk about the implications of the implications of that statement.

In any case, Christianity teaches
the entire goal and mindset we should have throughout this is one of peace, love for enemies and seeking peace. And I think that this is correct, although it can be extremely difficult and in some circumstances I feel torn.

Regards.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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Six mortar shells fall in Saudi Arabia near Iraqi-Kuwaiti borders
DEBKAfile November 21, 2013, 12:37 PM (GMT+02:00)

-- Six mortar shells fall in Saudi Arabia near Iraqi-Kuwaiti borders

The above is not a hefty news item when removed from its context. I posted it, to note that the Saudis are now getting the same sort of experience the Israelis have every day. In Israel, mortar and rocket attacks like these are treated like the daily weather report.

Saudi envoy urges citizens to leave Lebanon



A forensic inspector examines the site of the two suicide bombings that occurred on Tuesday near Iran’s embassy compound in Beirut November 20, 2013. (Reuters)

Published — Thursday 21 November 2013
Last update 21 November 2013 8:06 pm

"RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has asked its citizens to leave Lebanon due to the risk of political violence in the country, where twin suicide bombings near Iran’s embassy in Beirut killed 25 people this week..."

-- Saudi envoy urges citizens to leave Lebanon | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

Iranian Dep. FM in Beirut to meet Nasrallah
DEBKAfile November 21, 2013, 5:08 PM (GMT+02:00)

-- Iranian Dep. FM in Beirut to meet Nasrallah

Unusual Israeli air force activity reported over Lebanon
DEBKAfile November 21, 2013, 4:58 PM (GMT+02:00)

-- Unusual Israeli air force activity reported over Lebanon

While the world is being distracted by events in Geneva, Washington and elsewhere, it's good to remember that Iran, while talking "peace" to others, is orchestrating the bloodiest war currently being waged in the Middle East, namely, the Syrian conflict. Here are some good, relatively neutral, sources of information about the area:

The Syria Report - Economy, Business and Finance - Syria and the Middle East
Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News | THE DAILY STAR
Today's Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news
Kurd Net - Kurdistan Daily Online Newspaper, News about Kurds and Kurdistan کورد כורדיסטן - Курдистан сет&
Ya Libnan | World News Live from Lebanon
Egypt Independent
Home | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.
Oman Observer

Some good pro-Israel links are:

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security
IMRA - Middle East News & Analysis
Jpost - The Jerusalem Post | Israel news, Middle East & Judaism
Jewish & Israel News | Algemeiner.com Breaking Alerts, Commentary, Insights Analysis and Blogs
 
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BlandOatmeal

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Thursday, November 21, 2013
Interior minister: Lebanon facing 5 main dangers in 2014 (not Israel)

-- IMRA - Thursday, November 21, 2013 Interior minister: Lebanon facing 5 main dangers in 2014 (not Israel)

Either the Lebanese do not think Israel will attack within the coming year, or they consider that such an attack will not pose a severe threat to Lebanon (In fact, it may even help the country by reining in Hizbullah).

In other breaking news,

Iran Launches ‘Massive’ War Drills
Drills codenamed “Towards Jerusalem”


13920829000564_PhotoJ.jpg


BY: Adam Kredo
November 21, 2013 10:19 am

"Iranian military forces launched a series of “massive military drills” across nine provinces on Wednesday following an order by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports.

"The drills, codenamed “Towards Jerusalem,” will continue over the coming days and throughout the rest of the year..."

-- Iran Launches 'Massive' War Drills - Worthy News

Considering the timing of the drills and the unmistakably hostile code-name, I would say it's clear that Iran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear ambitions.

This appears to be a legitimate report. The above photo was one of several supplied by the Iranian government.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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WATCH THE BALL: GOG IS MAKING HIS MOVE

Turkey, Its Allies Struggling, Tempers Ambitions to Lead Region

Ahmad Mousa/Reuters

turkey-articleLarge.jpg



The Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, left, with Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, in Iraq.

By TIM ARANGO
Published: November 21, 2013

"ANKARA, Turkey — ...Turkey is rethinking its effort to reshape the region, and is instead reaching out to the Middle East’s two Shiite Muslim powers, Iraq and Iran. ...

"The idealism of leading a new Sunni alliance has given way to a more pragmatic approach centered on securing access to oil and gas for its economy, improving conditions for Turkish businesses and finding a way out of the intractable conflict in Syria. Many analysts describe the shift as a return to the mantra of “zero problems” with neighbors, a slogan that had previously guided Turkey’s foreign policy under the governing party.

"One of the most striking indications of the shift came when Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu [a Sunni] recently visited Baghdad and said “there is no limit to cooperation” between the countries. Mr. Davutoglu dressed in black, a symbol of mourning that is central to the Shiite faith, prayed at a famous Shiite shrine, met the spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and the militant Shiite leader Moktada al-Sadr, and talked about embracing his Shiite “brothers” in the holy city of Karbala. He had already hosted his Iranian counterpart in Turkey, and officials say Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will visit Baghdad and Tehran..."

-- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/w...empers-its-ambitions-to-lead-region.html?_r=0

A major piece of the puzzle is coming into place, with Turkey (Magog) moving into an alliance with Iran (Persia) -- and ultimately also with Sudan (Cush) and Libya (Phut) against Israel, as per Ezekiel 38-39. Amazingly, Israel's long-time enemies Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are actually ALLIED with Israel now. Those countries, along with Syria, are NOT MENTIONED in the Ezekiel prophecy, except as bystanders ("Dedan and Sheba", in today's Saudi Arabia and Yemen). The US and NATO, also mentioned as bystanders in Ezekiel (the "Merchants of Tarshish"), are also rudderless because of the strategic impotence of US President Obama.

As those who have followed this thread well know, I have been prophesying this move by Turkey for years. Now that it is upon us, I am awestruck at the widespread ignorance of its significance among Christians and other real and imagined Bible believers.

As I have said over and over, this is NOT the unfolding of the "Battle of Armageddon", spoken of in Revelation. In THAT battle, the US and NATO will be fully engaged, and the end will be a nuclear exchange. That is not for this time; but Ezekiel 38-39 could happen any time after Iran and Turkey cement their alliance.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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JEWISH AND ISRAELI NEWS:

Naharnet (Lebanon) 22 Nov.’13
Lebanon Marks Independence Day as Country at Stake over Terrorism, Refugee Burden”
Agence France Presse

"There has been no functioning government since Salam's appointment in April because of divisions between the March 8 and March 14 alliances over Syria. The March 14 coalition has conditioned the formation of the cabinet on Hizbullah's withdrawal from Syria. The party's fighters have been openly backing Syrian President Bashar Assad against the rebels seeking to topple him.

"Parliament has unilaterally extended its own mandate by 18 months by skipping the polls. The legislature is also failing to convene over the boycott of several blocs from the two rival camps..."

-- IMRA - Friday, November 22, 2013 Excerpts: Egypt denies Israeli firm securing Suez Canal.Dangers to

A comparison of Lebanon with Israel is appropriate, since they are very similar to one another in size and geographic location. Between the two, I would rather live in Israel. When Lebanon gained independence in 1943, it was 60% Christian. Since then, the Muslims have forced out most of the Christians: Muslims now outnumber Christians nearly 2:1; and Lebanese Christians outside of Lebanon (about 10 million) vastly outnumber the 1.7 million remaining in the homeland.

Meanwhile, in the USA,

Arrests Made as Jewish Communities Step Up Security Over Violent ‘Knockout Game’
November 22, 2013 2:27 pm
Author: Zach Pontz

"Vigilance paid off Thursday night when four perpetrators of the “Knockout Game” were apprehended in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

"The twisted Knockout Game consists of gangs seeking an unsuspecting victim who one member tries to knock out with one punch, like in a video game. Similar attacks are being reported in St. Louis, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and elsewhere but in New York recent targets have almost exclusively been Jewish.

"Local Jewish patrols, known as Shomrim, have stepped up their presence in neighborhoods in the borough of Brooklyn in the wake of such attacks..."

-- Arrests Made as Jewish Communities Step Up Security Over Violent 'Knockout Game' | Jewish & Israel News Algemeiner.com

...and back in the Middle East,

On 50th Anniversary of JFK Death, Iran’s PressTV Blames Israel
November 22, 2013 12:04 pm

-- On 50th Anniversary of JFK Death, Iran's PressTV Blames Israel | Jewish & Israel News Algemeiner.com
 
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BlandOatmeal

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Lebanese army seizes bomb car heading for Beirut
[may also be responsible for rocket attacks on Israel in September?]
DEBKAfile November 22, 2013, 8:13 AM (GMT+02:00)
'...[In another story?] A Palestinian confessed to planning the deadly twin explosions outside the Iranian embassy Tuesday. A blackout is imposed on his identity and his organization."

-- Lebanese army seizes bomb car heading for Beirut

The Palestinian's identity is important: Was he really al Qaeda, as anonymous informants claimed the embassy bombers were? Or was he an Iranian agent on a false flag mission? The same group that claimed responsibility for the embassy bombing, also claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks on Israel at the height of the "red line" affair. Outside of those two claims, nobody has ever heard of such a group.

Events in the Middle East are, sadly, often intertwined.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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I like what I have read so far and am going to copy and paste to Facebook and theteapartycommunity.
Thank you
Thanks, RD.

I don't personally do Facebook. For most people, it's a place to keep in touch [very light touch] with old friends. Once a person starts talking about the war against Israel, though, it's easy to turn old friends into new enemies. If you can manage to quote me there without becoming the only viewer on your site, more power to you! Just try to be careful not to attribute to me articles I've quoted from others.

Shalom shalom :wave:
 
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BlandOatmeal

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And now, more from the daily grind:

Postings from the Israeli "Debka File"?

An Israeli attack on Lebanon "may even help the country by reining in Hizbullah"?

Turkey=Magog?


(outlandish, irrelevant cartoon)
Hi, Rako

I just wanted to acknowledge you, and let you know that I noticed your page-filling cartoon. If you were trying to get attention, you succeeded. That said, you seem to be unaware of the things being discussed here. To make things clear,

1. Your cartoon is about President George W. Bush and VP Dick Cheney. Please update your thinking: They are no longer in power. I talked about them five to thirteen years ago. Where were you then?

2. This thread is about the war against Israel, which is an ongoing affair. The Iranians have been trying their darndest to get involved in it; but so far, they pretty much are confined to shipping short-range missiles to Hizbullah in Lebanon and telling their puppets when to use them. They've also tried to cause trouble from Gaza, but the sea blockade and the Egyptians have pretty much thwarted them. If Israel, the Saudis or others should happen some day to have to take out some of Iran's facilties in the near future, retalliation from the Ayatollah will not likely extend beyond the sort of thing that's already happening -- Iran simply doesn't have the reach to do much more.

3. If you have been reading carefully, you will notice that I believe Israel's most dangerous adversary, beyond this very temporary Iran business, is Turkey.

4. Read Eze 38-39. If you want to know who "Gog", or "Gyges" is, read a history book. Then look at a history map from Ezekiel's time, and locate Meshech, Tubal, etc. To locate Magog, you will have to check the few references to it in the Bible. It is always associated with other groups in and around Turkey. For practical purposes, it is an ancient geographical notation equal to "Asia Minor".

5. Back to your Bush-Cheney parade, do you actually think I believe the US is relevant in Israeli affairs in the near future? You are wrong. When the Israelis need advice now, they go to the Russians and French. Obama has made the US a laughingstock.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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Egypt and Turkey expel ambassadors, downgrade relations
DEBKAfile November 23, 2013, 5:12 PM (GMT+02:00)

"...
Ankara responded in kind. The Egyptian government accuses the Turkish prime minister of crudely interfering in its internal affairs..."

-- Egypt and Turkey expel ambassadors, downgrade relations

"Crudely" is the operative word, when it comes to Turkey -- doubly so when Ergogan is concerned. The Turks have had every opportunity to be friends with Israel and Egypt, which they were before Erdogan came to power. I think that in his case, as with Pharaoh of old, God has hardened his heart. He is quickly moving into the Iranian camp, with whom he shares intelligence information. The Russians and French, meanwhile, are drawing closer to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and the Americans are curling up into a little ball and sucking their thumbs.

Ezekiel 38-39 is still a way off, as is Isaiah 19; but we're moving inexorably toward them by all appearances.
 
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Bombers in Beirut Iran embassy attack identified

"...authorities say they have identified the two men who launched a double suicide attack on the Iranian embassy... Relatives of one of the men said he was a supporter of Al-Qaeda and Sheikh Ahmed Assir, a radical Sunni preacher in southern Lebanon."

Posted on 23 November 2013 | 9:15 pm

-- Iran News Latest Real-Time Updates

DEBKA was wrong on this one: They thought the embassy bombing was a false flag operation, to spur Hizbullah troops to fight for Iranian-backed Bashar Al-Assad by impressing on them the fact that the Syrian war was also being fought in Lebanon. It apparently is already being fought there; though in the Middle Eastern complex mix of clans, religious sects and world politics, these matters are usually more complicated than they seem at first glance. The spiritual inspiration for the bombers apparently came from Sheikh Ahmed Assir, a radical Sunni preacher in southern Lebanon, whose followers claim affinity with Al Qaeda.

If these most recent bombers are connected with the launchers of rockets into Israel several weeks ago, the motive for that attack seems to have been to draw Israel into a war with Hizbullah. Such a war did not materialize, because neither Iran, Syria nor Lebanon responded in kind to the Israeli retalliatory raid that ensued.

THE IRAN-LEBANON CONNECTION

While Israeli PM and his ministers carry on shuttle diplomacy with the French, Russians and Americans (as well as less public consultations with the Saudis and Egyptians), the action on the ground in the Iran vs. Israel phase of this war is mostly in Lebanon. When Iran does eventually get to the point where it is ready to actually assemble its bombs and mount them on IRBMs and other vehicles, it will not make this event public until its Hizbullah proxies in Lebanon are available and ready to attack Israel. This will not happen, as long as Hizbullah is pinned down fighting in Syria for Assad, and on its own turf against local Sunnis.

Father of suspected Palestinian bomber summoned
November 23, 2013 02:23 PM (Last updated: November 23, 2013 07:22 PM)
By Mohammed Zaatari
The Daily Star

"The father of Adnan Moussa al-Mohammad, 19, was summoned Saturday as part of the investigation into the attack which killed 29 people and wounded over 150 in the Beirut neighborhood of Bir Hasan...

"“We are against such terrorist acts and if it is proven that our son was [the suicide bomber] then may he go to hell,” he added...

“We have always supported the resistance group [Hezbollah],” the mother shouted, pointing to a portrait of Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah hanging on the wall.

The sources said the al-Mohammad clan was a mixed tribe of Lebanese and Palestinians with varying political leanings.

-- Father of suspected Palestinian bomber summoned | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR

I told you it was complicated :confused:
 
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rakovsky

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Thank you for acknowledging me. I also give you recognition.

The same cartoon applies to those who beat the "drums of war" today. We are not called by Jesus of Nazareth to be war makers but peace makers.

Your assessment of Iran's inneffectiveness is in your reply above is OK. Even if it gets nukes Iran will not really be a threat to the Israeli State because the latter already has 200+ nukes. A nuclear war with the State would be no less destructive for Iran and far more so. In other words, from a pragmatic point of view, the drums of war are unnecessary. In fact, they are probably counterproductive because the "drum beat" only raises tensions. In the long run if the State wishes to survive in the region it will have to make partners with the people there, not just dictatorial alliances.

It was interesting when you wrote:
Hi, Rako
do you actually think I believe the US is relevant in Israeli affairs in the near future? You are wrong. When the Israelis need advice now, they go to the Russians and French. Obama has made the US a laughingstock.
You are right that their government does not feel it has to set its goals based on what the US wanted.

However, over the years the US has taken "hits for the team," ranging from the OPEC embargo of the 1970's, to very recently losing voting rights at UNESCO. This was because the US refuses to fund UNESCO now due to the fact that almost every country in the world except for the US voted for the Palestinian Authority to join.

Do I think that situation will change? I don't have much reason to. So with 200+ nukes and the near total defensive support of the world's superpower they have a license to make peace and develop good relations if they want to. Personally I find Christ's teachings about peace to be inspirational and in accordance with them I believe that in terms of conscience and long term survival it would be the best thing for the State to seek, rather than playing the war drum.
 
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BlandOatmeal

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The following is topically related to the previous posts:

Report: Israeli Officer Expects Attack against Lebanon before Strike against Iran
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
by Naharnet Newsdesk

"Head of Israel's Paratroopers Brigade Itamar Ben-Haim noted that Hizbullah has doubled its rocket arsenal in recent years, saying that it rivals that of countries not organizations, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

"He said: “The most likely scenario of a war will take place with Lebanon, not Iran..."

"Israel is scheduled on Monday to hold wide scale military drills with units from the United States and several European countries..."

-- Report: Israeli Officer Expects Attack against Lebanon before Strike against Iran — Naharnet

Israel's border with Iran is, for all practical purposes, in Lebanon. The map below (Left) shows the range of various missiles in the Hizbullah arsenal:

lebanon-israel-map-missile-range-300x256.gif
MRBMsmall.gif


Iran itself does have missiles capable of reaching Israel (map above, Right); but as long as they can only deliver conventional payloads, they are no more of a threat than Saddam Hussein's hit-and-miss SKUDs were. Iran's getting hold of nukes would change all this, of course; but that's the whole point of the current discussion, isn't it?
 
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BlandOatmeal

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Thank you for acknowledging me. I also give you recognition.

The same cartoon applies to those who beat the "drums of war" today. We are not called by Jesus of Nazareth to be war makers but peace makers.
I don't know how much morality I am allowed to preach here. Note that neither Iran, Lebanon nor Israel are Christian countries. Also note that the coming wars I'm talking about were prophesied in the Bible thousands of years ago; and God's purpose in each of them is clearly spelled out.

In Israel's moral system, if I am not mistaken, the preservation of life is the highest moral obligation. The world's Jews sadly failed to obey this commandment with the advent of Hitler. Some Jews obeyed, fighting against incredible odds in various undergrounds and among the armed forces of various allied countries. I have some relatives who served in Anders' Army, and some who endured great hardships in forced treks across Siberia after escaping the Nazis. Others died in Auschwitz, Stanislau and elsewhere.

This time around, I believe the Jewish people will fight for their loved ones, their homes and the land that God entrusted to their care.
Even if it gets nukes Iran will not really be a threat to the Israeli State because the latter already has 200+ nukes. A nuclear war with the State would be no less destructive for Iran and far more so. In other words, from a pragmatic point of view, the drums of war are unnecessary.
If you think that, you have no concept of geography. Israel is the size of a metropolitan area, not a country. One bomb getting through would annihilate the Jews there. The "Samson Option" is named after the character in the Bible. Samson died:

Judges 16
[30] And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
...the US has taken "hits for the team," ranging from the OPEC embargo of the 1970's, to very recently losing voting rights at UNESCO...
The Iranians call the US the "Great Satan", and call Israel the "Little Satan". When the Muslims trample and burn American flags, it has nothing to do with Israel: They hate us, even more than they hate the Jews.

Israel does not expect the US to "take the hit" for them. In 1948, the US joined in an arms blockade to prevent the Jews from getting weapons. The Russians circumvented the blockade, saving the Jews from their neighbors. In 1956, Israel attacked Egypt because they had blocked both Suez and the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. The British and French supported the venture, but the Americans joined with the Soviets to oppose Israel. In 1967, when Egypt again attempted to blockade the Straits and massed tanks to attack, Israel defeated them, as well as their Syrian and Jordanian allies. The Americans were unable to participate in the war, because we were completely occupied with Vietnam. In 1973, when the Israelis again saw that the Egyptians and Syrians were massing to attack, the US President pressured them not to preemptively attack. Secretary Kissinger, in fact, wanted Israel to be nearly defeated, in order to force them to the surrender table. It was American pressure that led Israel to cede some 75% of its territory to Egypt after that war, including oil deposits that the Israelis discovered and developed. Immediately after that surrender, Israel was engaged in Lebanon, in a civil war there that threatened Israel's security. President Reagan and America's allies intervened there, to force Israel to withdraw from areas it had occupied. The Iranians, of course, repaid us for our "good deed" by killing most of our peacekeepers with a suicide attack.

Is that what you call "taking the hit" for Israel? If so, I think Israel would do better without our help. Any country can get arms from any country nowadays, as the new Russian deal with the Egyptians demonstrates. It was the Americans who wanted Israel to buy arms from them. Israel produces some of the most advanced weapons in the world, and can readily obtain top-of-the-line equipment from the Germans and others as the need arises.

UNESCO? Who in their right mind wants to be seen associating with UNESCO? It's nothing but a bigot's club.

All of this is moot. The US has pretty much abandoned Israel. If it does happen to find itself on Israel's side, it will be to work towards US interests, not Israeli.

Thanks for posting.
 
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rakovsky

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It is interesting writing with you, Bland.

You commented:
I don't know how much morality I am allowed to preach here. Note that neither Iran, Lebanon nor Israel are Christian countries.
That may be true, however if Christ is the Messiah then he correctly understands and teaches how God believes it is best for us to act. We very often fail to follow His model for us.

You commented:
Also note that the coming wars I'm talking about were prophesied in the Bible thousands of years ago; and God's purpose in each of them is clearly spelled out.
Actually, I am afraid to say that many arbitrary, personal prophecy readings are incorrect. One of the best ways to understand prophecy is to look at how it has been handed down in the Church for centuries. A common argument against following early Church interpretations is that those Church teachers could be wrong. That is true, but it is also true for private interpretation. This is why early Church teachings should be strongly considered.

The case of Gog and Magog is one example. In the first mention in the Old Testament they appear to refer to people and later they appear to refer to places- a region north of Zion/Palestine being one example. However in the New Testament era many of these ancient concepts have been transformed. St. Paul says that circumcision is of the heart, for example. In Revelations it does talk about Gog and Magog, but they clearly are not referring to Turkey in that passage, but about vast numbers of people from "the four corners".

So at some points in the Old Testament it was referring to some persons or places, while in the New Testament era it gives a prophecy about others. The main lessons I think are to use discernment and skepticism, consider Church teachings, and recognize that when it comes to prophecy there is an element of visions, symbolism, and fog.

You mentioned:
In Israel's moral system, if I am not mistaken, the preservation of life is the highest moral obligation.
Isn't the top moral obligation that was given to Israel and then to the world the worship of God?

The world's Jews sadly failed to obey this commandment with the advent of Hitler. Some Jews obeyed, fighting against incredible odds in various undergrounds and among the armed forces of various allied countries.
I wish to avoid making a moral judgment call against the victims in that case, which very many Jews were, along with non-Jews as well. The Polish army was simply overwhelmed by the Nazis, who massacred very many of them too. Yes, the Polish had resistance, but not all Poles did.
I have some relatives who served in Anders' Army, and some who endured great hardships in forced treks across Siberia after escaping the Nazis. Others died in Auschwitz, Stanislau and elsewhere.
It sounds like some interesting and exciting stories.
This time around, I believe the Jewish people will fight for their loved ones, their homes and the land that God entrusted to their care.
Perhaps one of the problems was how that energy against the racist fascists in Germany was redirected and converted into attacking a weak civilian population in the Holy Land. Very many Palestinians served in the British army in WWII and were against the Nazis. But they did not have an army or force of their own besides some militias, because they lived under empires for so long. I heard about Christians like Bishop Chacour who were very sad to hear about the genocide of Jews in Europe, and yet were driven out of their villages themselves by the immigrants' disciplined forces.


If you think that, you have no concept of geography. Israel is the size of a metropolitan area, not a country. One bomb getting through would annihilate the Jews there.
Iran would not want its cities to get hit by 200+ nukes either, B.Oatmeal.

When the Muslims trample and burn American flags, it has nothing to do with Israel: They hate us...
I'm afraid it does. That does not mean the US should have no relations with the State, but major figures like General Petreus have stated that this is one of the downsides of the relationship. It's just a fact.
My guess is that the US and Israelis do not really care about Muslim extremism anyway because they are backing the kookoo Jihadis in Libya and Syria. But I digress.


Israel does not expect the US to "take the hit" for them.
Yes it does. It expects the US to take hits like losing status in UN organizations for failing to pay dues when Palestinians join. Congress passed a law saying the US had to leave UN organizations that Palestinians join. And it has.

UNESCO? Who in their right mind wants to be seen associating with UNESCO?
Almost every country.

The US has pretty much abandoned Israel. If it does happen to find itself on Israel's side, it will be to work towards US interests, not Israeli.
Losing UNESCO voting status was not a US interest.

In any case, I am trying to answer your questions in a straight way. The main thing I want to remember is our ideal for peace and caring about the less fortunate and how to work toward that.

Prince-Peace-Lrg.jpg


Take care.
 
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Israel has nukes. If Iran gets nukes it will be more fair.

How about if Israel loses its nukes, and no one in the region gains any?

That seems the better alternative. After all, Israel has the most powerful military in the region, a democratic and growing society, and very powerful allies in America, Germany, the UK and (recently) China and India.
 
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How about if Israel loses its nukes, and no one in the region gains any?

That seems the better alternative. After all, Israel has the most powerful military in the region, a democratic and growing society, and very powerful allies in America, Germany, the UK and (recently) China and India.
-- and Israel becomes a hostage to Russia and NATO. Brilliant, Supe.
 
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